Dustin Johnson posts second-round 69 to move top at US Open
By Ali Stafford at Oakmont
Last Updated: 19/06/16 2:21am
Dustin Johnson has bolstered his hopes of a maiden major title by moving into the clubhouse lead after a bumper second day at the US Open at Oakmont Country Club.
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Johnson followed an opening-round 67 with a one-under 69 to join first-round leader Andrew Landry at the top of the leaderboard on four under, with half the field yet to start their second rounds as a result of delays from Thursday's storms.
The pair hold a one-shot cushion over Lee Westwood, who has only played one round, with Scott Piercy and Sergio Garcia a further stroke back and just 13 players under par.
Play was suspended due to darkness at 8.42pm local time and will resume at 7am (12pm BST) on Saturday, where Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are in need of fast starts.
Beginning on the back nine, Johnson moved into a share of the lead by rolling in a birdie-two at the 13 but missed a number of opportunities to take the outright advantage around the turn.
Johnson's bogey-free week came to an end after having to pitch out from a bunker at the par-four first, before he failed to claim the shot back with a three-putt par from distance at the fourth.
One-time joint-leader Scott Piercy dropped shots on two of his first three holes but recovered to reach the turn in 34, with an eight-foot gain at the seventh temporarily lifting him alongside Johnson one off the pace.
Soon after Piercy missed the eighth green and nudged in a bogey, Johnson coaxed in from 12 feet at the sixth to get back alongside Landry.
Piercy tapped in his final hole to close a level-par 70, as Johnson closed with three consecutive pars to sign for a second consecutive under par round.
Sergio Garcia drained a long-range par-save on his final hole to stay within two of the lead, while Daniel Summerhays posted five birdies in a seven-hole stretch along the back nine to close a round-of-the-week 65 and move under par for the week.
Andy Sullivan is also at one under after following a 71 with a four-birdie 68, a score matched by fellow Englishman Lee Slattery as he chipped in for eagle at the 12th and posted four birdies and four bogeys in his second round.
World No 1 Jason Day continued to struggle and bogeyed the sixth to slip back to five over just before play was halted, with McIlroy getting underway on Saturday a further two strokes off the pace..
Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson all sit below the current projected cut line with just a couple of holes to play, while Jamie Donaldson drained a 45-foot birdie on his final hole to complete a second successive 74.
Watch the US Open throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Saturday from 1.30pm.
